CHRISTIANITY  IN  PRACTICE 


A SERIES  OF  SKETCHES  DESCRIBING 
INSTITUTIONS  AND  TYPES  OF  SERVICE 
ON  BAPTIST  MISSION  FIELDS  ABROAD 
Published  as  occasion  may  require 


Number  Three 


JAPAN 


The  Little  White  Ship  of  the 
Inland  Sea 


AMERICAN  BAPTIST  FOREIGN  MISSION  SOCIETY 

Ford  Building  Ashburton  Place  Boston,  Mass. 


The  Time 

Twenty  years  ago. 

The  Tlace 

The  Inland  Sea  of  Japan,  dotted 
with  hundreds  of  islands  separ- 
ated from  one  another  and  cut 
off  from  the  mainland. 

The  Opportunity 

To  reach  more  than  one  million 
lonely  and  isolated  people  for 
the  first  time  with  news  of  the 
world’s  Christ. 

The  Method 

The  “Fukuin  Maru”,  more  fa- 
miliarly known  as  the  Gospel 
Ship  or  the  Little  White  Ship 
of  the  Inland  Sea. 

The  Results 

Five  evangelists  in  active  service. 
Sixty-two  regular  preaching 
places. 

Three  hundred  and  sixty  church 
members. 

Fifty-two  Sunday  schools. 
Thirty-five  hundred  pupils. 

The  Gospel  preached  to  thou- 
sands of  Japanese. 

THE  LITTLE  WHITE  SHIP  OF  THE 
INLAND  SEA 


»T  was  Rev.  R.  A.  Thomson,  D.D.,  a mis- 
sionary on  the  border  of  the  Inland  Sea  of 
Japan,  who  dreamed  the  dream  of  getting 
in  touch  with  these  lonely,  unvisited  island- 
ers. Millions  of  people  had  lived  and  died 
on  these  islands  without  hearing  the  story 
of  Jesus.  It  was  Mr.  Robert  Allan  of  the  Allan  Steam- 
ship Line  of  Scotland  who  made  this  dream  a reality  by 
giving  315,000  to  the  American  Baptist  Foreign  Mission 
Society  for  a Gospel  Ship.  It  was  Captain  Luke  W.  Bickel, 
peculiarly  fitted  for  this  unique  missionary  task  by  his 
training  in  the  British  Merchant  Marine  and  later  in 
the  London  City  Alission,  who  was  made  captain  of 
the  new  vessel. 

In  1899  the  little  white  ship  started  on  her  maiden 
voyage.  First  months  were  anxious  ones.  The  crew, 
by  necessity  a group  of  picked-up  rather  than  picked 
men,  were  rough  Japanese  sailors  who  drank  and  gambled. 
They  were  not  long  in  daily  contact  with  a man  of  Captain 
Bickel’s  character  before  a change  was  noticeable.  One 
after  another  the  entire  crew  was  converted  and  the  men 
became  an  aid  rather  than  a hindrance  to  the  work  which 
their  captain  was  trying  to  do. 

At  first  the  strange  ship  met  with  opposition  from  the 
islanders  who  were  rather  proud  of  their  independence 
and  isolation.  But  the  coldness  soon  thawed  before  the 
geniality  of  the  captain  and  his  wife  and  the  insistent 
friendliness  of  their  little  son  and  daughter.  Before  long, 
doors  that  had  opened  only  a crack  at  first  were  flung  wide 
when  the  ship’s  flag  appeared  in  port.  Hundreds  of  miles 
of  intricate  channels,  the  only  access  to  many  villages,  had 
been  traveled;  towns  were  systematically  and  regularly 


1 


visited;  Christian  libraries  opened;  and  Cliristian  litera- 
ture scattered  freely.  Today  50,000  people  a're  preached 
to  regularly  and  3,500  have  been  enrolled  in  the  fifty- 
two  Sunday  schools.  The  whole  territory  is  divided 
into  five  districts  with  a Japanese  evangelist  in  charge 
of  each.  A small  boat,  called  the  Fukuin  Maru  No.  2,  sails 
up  the  creeks  and  bays  inaccessible  to  the  larger  vessel. 
Afore  than  sixty  centers  are  visited  regularly  and  others 
are  touched  occasionally.  Church  members  are  found  in 
sixty-five  towns,  and  Christianity  is  recognized  in  400  and 
more  settlements. 

In  1913  the  original  vessel  was  replaced  by  a larger, 
faster  ship  which  was  necessitated  by  the  remarkable 
growth  of  the  work.  The  second  Fukuin  Alaru  contains 
apartments  for  the  missionaries,  an  assembly  room,  and 
several  special  rooms  for  the  evangelists.  Its  powerful 
engines  enable  it  to  develop  twice  the  speed  of  the  first 
ship. 

Late  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1917,  the  little  white 
ship  became  a ship  of  mourning.  The  pioneer  captain, 
the  friend  of  the  islanders,  had  been  guided  by  the 
great  Pilot  into  another  wider  sea  without  horizon.  Since 
this  bereavement  the  little  white  ship  has  passed  through 
stormy  days.  Rev.  Frank  C.  Briggs  took  up  the  work 
courageously  and  enthusiastically,  only  to  be  called  away 
all  too  soon  to  the  captain’s  side.  But  the  work  must 
live  on.  So  it  was  decided  that  on  January  30,  1918, 
the  little  ship  should  fare  forth  again,  sailed  by  the  cap- 
tain’s son,  Philip  Bickel,  and  manned  by  Doctors  Chiba 
and  Axling,  as  missionaries,  aided  by  Dr.  Thomson  of 
Kobe,  and  various  native  evangelists  whom  the  captain 
had  trained. 

The  work  of  the  mission  on  the  Inland  Sea,  like  the 
gospel  work  in  all  lands,  extends  beyond  the  lives  of  its 
servants  in  the  endless  chain  of  lives  they  bring  to 
Christ. 


2 


Captain  Luke  W.  Bickel 


INCIDENTS  OF  THE  INLAND  SEA 

An  ignorant  jinrikisha  coolie  named  Ode  San  became 
converted  at  the  age  of  67  and  returned  from  the 
mainland  to  his  native  village  to  preach,  as  he  said.  Since 
he  could  not  write,  could  read  the  Bible  only  by  spelling 
out  each  word  and  spoke  most  crudely.  Captain  Bickel  was 
somewhat  dismayed  at  having  him  the  first  representative 
of  Christianity  in  his  town.  Three  months  after  his  conver- 
sion, the  captain  received  a card,  saying  “Come  preach.” 
He  went,  and  found  an  audience  of  400  waiting  for  him. 


3 


How  had  Ode  aroused  this  interest?  He  had  gone  to  a 
house  where  a sick  man  lay  and  offered  to  help  the  wife  in 
any  way  he  could.  He  had  drawn  water  and  carried 
wood  until  the  man  was  well.  He  had  visited  all  the  sick 
of  the  town  and  offered  help  in  the  same  way,  preaching  by 
his  kindly  acts  and  simple  words.  When  he  announced 
a meeting,  400  of  his  townsmen  responded.  He  has  spoken 
personally  to  58,000  people  and  has  opened  up  four  islands 
since  his  conversion. 


HEN  the  second  evangelistic  center  was  opened  on 


’ ^ the  islands,  opposition  from  the  four  Buddhist 
priests  arose  immediately.  A meeting  of  denunciation 
was  announced  and  the  people  crowded  to  it  to  enjoy 
the  evangelist’s  discomfiture.  But  the  outcome  was  a 
surprise.  The  priest,  when  cross-questioned  by  the 
evangelist,  answered: 

“You  and  I are  like  fire  and  water.  We  hate  each  other, 
so  let  us  leave  each  other  alone.” 

The  Christian  said,  “That  is  your  view.  My  master 
tells  me  that  you  and  I are  brothers  and  bids  me  love 
you.  This  I do.” 

This  reply  ended  the  bickering  and  sent  the  people 
home  wondering  and  pondering.  Before  many  months 
the  community  and  even  the  priests  were  friendly  to 
him  and  his  efforts. 

The  four  year  old  daughter  of  one  of  the  island  evan- 
gelists died.  It  was  rumored  in  the  town  that  the  Chris- 
tians would  mutilate  her  body  before  burying  it.  To  prove 
the  rumors  false  all  the  people  were  asked  to  attend  the 
funeral.  When  they  saw  the  little  girl  lying  on  soft  white 
cushions  with  a rose  in  her  hand  and  heard  the  father’s 
hopeful,  almost  happy  words,  they  were  noticeably  im- 
pressed. After  a baptismal  ceremony  which  followed  the 
funeral,  a man  was  heard  to  say,  “These  Christian  ordi- 


4 


nances  and  services  have  a depth  and  beauty  that  is  en- 
tirely new  to  us.” 

All  this  occurred  at  the  opening  of  this  center  where  the 
usual  opposition  was  met.  Before  three  years  had 
passed  the  mayor’s  son  was  baptized  and  the  children  of 
the  Buddhist  priest  were  receiving  instruction  from  the 
Christian  evangelist. 

* * 

CAPTAIN  BICKEL  once  went  to  an  official  in  a large 
city  far  from  his  field.  The  official  said, 

“The  Fukuin  Alaru.^  Oh,  yes,  we  have  heard  of  her. 
You  go  to  strange  places  to  do  good.  We  will  grant  your 
request.” 

In  such  esteem  is  the  Gospel  Ship  held  by  Japanese  men 
of  authority.  “A  strangely  persistent,  energetic  religion 
is  that  of  yours,”  remarked  another  official. 

* * 

A JAPANESE  school  principal  was  baptized  and  imme- 
diately lost  his  position.  All  work  was  refused  him 
and  his  relatives  and  friends  waited  for  him  to  reject  his  new 
belief  in  the  face  of  poverty.  They  were  dumbfounded 
when  he  returned  to  town  after  a short  absence  and  began 
selling  pencils  and  paper.  Their  jeering  ceased  immedi- 
ately. He  is  now  an  honored  and  successful  evangelist 
among  his  own  people. 

* * 

The  first  evidence  of  his  crew’s  desire  to  help  in  the 
evangelistic  work  came  to  Captain  Bickel  most 
unexpectedly.  Since  their  conversion  the  men  had  ceased 
hindering  his  work  by  thoughtless  acts  and  words  but 
they  had  shown  no  Inclination  to  aid  him.  One  night 
while  the  Gospel  Ship  was  in  port  the  captain  returned 
unexpectedly  from  an  Inland  trip  and  found  placards 
posted  all  over  the  town,  announcing  a Christian  meeting. 


5 


Much  surprised,  for  he  knew  that  the  evangelist  was  away, 
he  went  to  the  meeting  place  and  there  found  that  two  of 
his  sailors  had  hired  a house  on  their  own  initiative  and 
were  conducting  services; 

* * * 

TT  \ ER'^'  day  for  ten  months  two  little  tots,  the  one 
three  the  other  four,  toddled  down  to  the  sandy  beach 
at  Tononiu,  and  kneeling  lifted  their  faces  to  the  blue  sky 
above,  clasped  their  hands  together  and  prayed  that  the 
‘dub-dub’  ship  might  come.  Then  scrambling  to  their  feet 
they  gazed  longingly  out  over  the  wavelets  to  see  their 
prayer  answered.  But  no  ‘dub-dub’  ship  came.  How 
could  they  know  that  the  good  captain  would  sail  his  ship 
no  more.^  Their  Scotch  mother  and  Japanese  father,  who 
stand  alone  in  a persecuting  community  that  hates  the 
yaso,  were  sick  at  heart.  They  knew  that  the  captain 
had  gone,  and  Air.  Briggs  to  join  him.  The  little  white 
ship  came  no  more.  The  villagers  said  that  Christianity 
was  beaten.  How  those  two  Christians  longed  for  some 
comfort,  for  the  shake  of  a friendly  hand!  On  Easter 
morn,  behold, — the  Fukuin  Alaru  rounded  the  point,  sped 
up  the  bay,  and  came  to  anchorage.  That  night  a dele- 
gation of  the  headmen  of  the  village  came  off  to  the  ship 
and  asked  that  meetings  should  be  held  regularly  in  that 
place  as  they  wanted  to  hear  more  of  a religion  whose 
believers  were  so  faithful  and  persistent.  . . . Truly 

Easter  had  come  to  Tononiu. 

51:  * 

WHEN  the  people  on  the  islands  heard  that  Captain 
Bickel  had  died,  they  were  overwhelmed  with 
grief  and  sorrow.  The  village  of  Setoda,  being  the  center 
from  wdiich  the  Fukuin  Alaru  Church  began  its  work, 
decided  to  hold  a memorial  service.  It  was  first  thought 
to  have  the  service  in  the  church  building,  but  it  was  found 


to  be  too  small,  and  so  the  leading  theater  was  rented  for 
the  occasion.  Flowers  were  sent  by  the  village  people, 
Christians  as  well  as  non-Christians  sending  these  tokens 
of  their  love  and  affection  for  Captain  Bickel.  A large 
audience  attended  the  memorial  service  including  many 
sailor  boys  from  the  Mercantile  Marine  School,  because 
they  knew  the  captain  and  loved  him  as  their  friend. 

This  service  was  a wonderful  indication  of  the  influence 
of  Captain  Bickel’s  work.  When  he  first  came  to  Setoda 
nineteen  years  ago,  the  people  declined  to  receive  him. 
They  signed  a document  to  the  effect  that  no  one  would 
rent  their  house  for  a meeting  to  this  “Jesus  Man”  as 
they  called  him,  and  the  captain  had  to  face  a serious 
opposition  before  he  could  begin  his  work.  And  now  all 
is  changed.  Many  active  Christians  live  in  the  village; 
a fine  kindergarten  is  conducted  there,  and  it  is  hoped 
that  soon  a handsome  church  building  will  be  erected 
for  these  village  Christians.  At  the  time  of  the  memorial 
service,  the  people  made  special  efforts  to  clean  the  streets 
for  the  sake  of  the  visitors.  When  the  death  of  Captain 
Bickel  was  announced  one  of  the  Japanese  papers  said: 
“In  the  death  of  Captain  Bickel  the  Baptists  have  lost 
an  ideal  missionary,  the  Christian  body  has  lost  a member 
of  apostolic  character,  and  the  Japanese  nation  has  lost 
one  who  loved  its  people  with  a truer  love  than  that  of 
those  born  Japanese.” 


7 


FACTS  ABOUT  THE  JAPAN  MISSION 


Missionaries 56 

Japanese  Workers 233 

Stations 10 

Organized  Churches  33 

Church  AIembers  3670 

Sunday  Schools  202 

Sunday  School  Pupils 14,046 

'I’heological  Seminaries  and  Training  Schools 3 

Students  65 

High  Schools  5 

Students  464 

Secondary  Schools  4 

Pupils  658 

Primary  Schools 17 

Pupils  1008 

Appropriations $137,614.21 


S 


CHRISTIANITY  IN  PRACTICE 


A series  of  sketches  describing 
institutions  and  types  of  service 
on  Baptist  mission  fields  abroad 

Published  as  occasion  may  require 


THE  FOLLOWING  NUMBERS  HAVE  BEEN  PUBLISHED 

1—  A DAY  IN  THE  TOKYO  TABERNACLE 

2—  THE  JORHAT  CHRISTIAN  SCHOOLS  OF  ASSAM 

3—  THE  LITTLE  WHITE  SHIP  OF  THE  INLAND  SEA 

Others  to  follow 


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130-6M-9-1-1918 


For  additional  literature 
or  other  information  re- 
garding the  work  of  the 
American  Baptist  Foreign 
Mission  Society,  write  to  any 
of  the  following : 

1.  The  District  Secretary  of  your 
district. 

2.  Department  of  Missionary  Educa- 
tion. 23  East  26th  Street,  New 
York  City. 

3.  Literature  Department,  Box  41, 
Boston.  Mass. 

For  information  regarding  any  form 
of  gift  write  to  J.  Y.  Aitchison.  Home 
Secretary,  Box  41.  Boston,  Mass. 


